[SatNews] The sixth Boeing [NYSE: BA] Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) satellite, funded by the Commonwealth of Australia—the program’s first partner outside the United States—has been delivered on orbit to the U.S. Air Force, boosting communications capabilities for the U.S. military and its allies.

Australia’s funding of the spacecraft provided the Australian Defence Force with immediate access to the WGS network. WGS-6 launched Aug. 7 and is the second WGS satellite delivered to the Air Force this year.

“The first six WGS satellites are giving warfighters quick and reliable access to information, and we continue our commitment to providing the same level of quality and value on the remaining WGS satellites,” said Craig Cooning, vice president and general manager of Boeing Space & Intelligence Systems.

Four additional WGS satellites are in production in El Segundo under the program’s Block II follow-on contract. WGS-8 and beyond will include an upgraded digital channelizer, which will increase the satellite’s bandwidth by more than 90 percent.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world’s largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $33 billion business with 58,000 employees worldwide.